Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-05-14
SENATOR FAULKNER.

=, 49, S'0' = "uhNHct, Vi Mar.
tinsburg, was elected Senator. Tboro
was no caucus nomination. and on
the first ballot in the joint assemble
Mr.. Faulkner received As votes
Several others were placed in nomi
nation, but before the result was
announced a sufficient number Of
Democrats changed to Faulkner To
give him the election.
Judge Faulkner was elected To
the Bench in this Circuit at the cleo.
ton in 1880, and for three wears
past has always been spoken of as
the best Circuit Judge in the State
He is about forty years of age and
in point of native intellect is eoual
to any. He has, while on the Bench
acquired the habits of q student and
being a man Of very quick percep.
ton he has 1T in his power to write
his name on the page of history
alongside of Calhoun, Webster and
Clay. He is young, he has capacity,
he has the opportunity and he has
every inducement to patriotic exer.
ton. 1t will be recollected that he
was one among those the "twelvep
offered to support last February, but
the Camden men refused to accept
him. We presume the railroad
lobby will now claim the credit of
giving him the place, in hopes of be,
ing able to "use him. Mr.. Faulk.
ner is young but we do not think he
will be caught in this trap. He will
be tempted as very few men have
been tempted. If he has the sagacity
we think he has, the railroad man,
ayers will find themselves greatly
mistaken, and the cause of the
general public has gained an able
advocate. 1t gives us infinite pleas.
nre to testify that he is one of the
very few men, prominent in West
Va. politics, who do not hesitate to
express in public what they speak
in private. The true democracy of
West Virginia is entirely satisfied
with the result; and there is debt
of gratitude to those who prevented
Mr.. Camden's reelection that can
never be paid.
Governor Wilson is of opinion
that the Legislature, at this extra
session, did not have jurisdiction to
choose a Senator, and we presume
he will decline to certify Mr.. Faulk.
ner's election. When Congress
meets the Senate will be called on
to determine whether he or Mr.. Lu.
cas- is entitled to the seat. 1t is i'm.
possible to predict its decision. The
present outlook is, that after the 4th
of March, 1889, the Senate will stand
either 80 Democrats to 81 Republi'
cans, or 80 Republicans to 81 Dem
ocrats lone vote will control its
action. The Republicans are conf
dent of being able to carry our next
Legislature and if Lucas be seated
it will elect two Senators. Hence,
it is safe to say that the Republi
cans will be inclined to seat Lucas.
There is another view to take.
Unless Faulkner gives some assur-
ance that he'will betray the people
IN moments of emergency, the rail
road Senators, on the Democratic
side, will prefer Lucas for eighteen
months to Faulkner for six years.
Looking to this contingency, we
trust he has sagacity enough to com
prehend that if the corporations
refuse to risk him, then it will be
absolutely impossible to elect men
to our next Legislature unless they
are publicly pledged to make him
the Senator, and, if elected under
these circumstances, he will be IN
vincible in the hearts of the people
and his tenure will be for life
West Va. Democrat.